A mother in Toronto has been charged with attempted murder after her 11-year-old son suffered life-threatening injuries in a west-end apartment.

Toronto police Const. Victor Kwong told reporters Friday afternoon that the mother, 32, faces three charges including attempted murder, aggravated assault and failing to provide the necessities of life.

Kwong said police will not be releasing the suspect’s name in an effort to protect the identity of the young victim.

He added that according to the last update he was given, the boy remains in hospital in critical and life-threatening condition.

The boy was found with severe head injuries in an apartment unit in the city’s west end early Friday morning.

Several 911 calls were made from the building when an altercation broke out in a 12th-floor unit at 19 Eva Rd, in the Bloor St. West and The West Mall area, shortly after 1 a.m.

The boy had also managed to call 911, whispering into the phone that he was being beaten before the line went dead.

When police arrived at the building, they found the main entrance locked and had to break through glass in the lobby in order to make their way to unit 1210.

The boy was found on the balcony and was taken to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, while two other children were removed from the apartment and are now in the care of the Children’s Aid Society.

Kwong would not give details on the nature of the relationship between the other children in the house, noting the need to protect the victim's identity.

One neighbour on the 12th floor said his family suddenly heard screaming from the apartment, “and it went on for quite a while.” They could also hear the mother reciting the Lord’s Prayer.

Another neighbour said she heard the mother repeating the words: “You’re not my son, you’re not my son.”

When police arrived, neighbours reported hearing a struggle inside the apartment, and police later said three officers sustained minor injuries. None of the officers had to be taken to hospital.

Police arrested the boy’s mother and another woman. The second woman has since been released and will not face any charges. The second woman’s relationship to the family is not clear.

Initial information from officers at 22 Division suggested a weapon had been used on the boy, possibly a household item. Other unconfirmed reports suggested a refrigerator may have fallen on the boy.

Police have since dispelled reports that some sort of ritualistic event took place in the home.

One building resident said the mother appeared intoxicated as she sat in the back of a police cruiser following her arrest.

“She was in the back of the cruiser and she was blowing kisses and she was smiling,” the resident told reporters.

The boy was scheduled to undergo surgery sometime Friday.

With reports from CTV Toronto’s Austin Delaney and CP24’s Jackie Crandles